diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..8acdd82b76
--- /dev/null
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+0.0.1
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index fca3c77700..f01eec436f 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def read(fname):
 
 setup(
     name="SynapseHomeServer",
-    version="0.1",
+    version="0.0.1",
     packages=find_packages(exclude=["tests"]),
     description="Reference Synapse Home Server",
     install_requires=[
diff --git a/synapse/__init__.py b/synapse/__init__.py
index 1e7b2ab272..47fc1b2ea4 100644
--- a/synapse/__init__.py
+++ b/synapse/__init__.py
@@ -15,3 +15,5 @@
 
 """ This is a reference implementation of a synapse home server.
 """
+
+__version__ = "0.0.1"